Chapter 712: Nail an Ai Figure [Thank You! Again! 41k Chapters Owed]

Time flowed on,

and now it was May,

with the Dragon Boat Festival drawing near.

At dawn,

the hour of Mao (5 a. m.).

Though early, the streets already teemed with commoners rising to enter the city for work.

Xu Zaijing rode his horse along the road to Jiying Alley.

Willow trees by the roadside swayed gently,

while shops and stalls sold breakfasts; when lids were lifted from pots or steamers, thick clouds of white vapor rose and swiftly vanished in the morning breeze.

The morning breeze now carried no chill, yet still held the lingering scent of cooking fires.

He rode his horse onto the bridge,

and at its center, Xu Zaijing paused briefly, gazing down at the river below.

The canal was now in its high-water season, its abundant waters carrying boats laden with goods or grain.

These boats,

some continued under the rowers' control, others drifted slowly toward shore.

At the docks, people were already unloading and loading cargo.

Withdrawing his gaze from the bustling riverside wharf, Xu Zaijing lightly nudged his horse's flanks and descended the bridge.

Jiying Alley,

the Sheng household,

in the schoolyard, bamboo grew lush, its branches and leaves thick and dense.

The curtain at the entrance had been removed,

and Xu Zaijing, without entering the house, could see Chang Bai seated as always behind his desk, studying diligently.

Arriving at the entrance,

he could see deep into the schoolroom,

and Xu Zaijing paused, then smiled: "Er Lang, you haven't beaten me to class in a long while."

Gu Tingye looked up, lifting his chin slightly with pride: "Jing Ge'er, wait and see—I'll be here before you every day from now on."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Fine! I'll be watching."

Saying this, Xu Zaijing walked to his own desk and sat down.

Outside the schoolroom,

the sky gradually brightened,

sunlight first touched the rooftops,

then, as the sun rose higher, it spilled into the courtyard,

and when the sun brought warmth, it was already the first watch of noon (11 a. m.).

Liu Mama arrived at the school with a maid, carrying a delicate bamboo basket.

Seeing Liu Mama and her attendants, the servants and maids at the back of the schoolroom hurried forward, took the lunch, and carried it to their respective young masters.

Liu Mama bowed to the group and said: "Master, young masters—the Dragon Boat Festival is near; these are small tokens of goodwill from my old mistress and the Lady."

As she spoke, Liu Mama began distributing the colorful five-thread cords from the basket, each symbolizing good health and safety.

She handed them out in order: first Chang Bai, Qi Heng, and Chang Feng; then, at the back, Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and Zai Zhang.

When the cord reached Xu Zaijing's side, he took it and smiled: "Thank you, Auntie Ancestor and Auntie! Thank you, Liu Mama."

"You're too kind, Jing Ge'er," Liu Mama replied, bowing with a smile.

Xu Zaijing looked at the colorful cord in his hand and said: "Liu Mama, this year's weaving pattern seems different?"

"You have sharp eyes, Wu Lang," Liu Mama replied.

As Liu Mama handed the cord to Gu Tingye, Xu Zaijing narrowed his eyes, seeing Gu Tingye's bare wrist, and laughed: "I say, Er Lang, you already have one on your wrist—why take another?"

Gu Tingye flexed his wrist proudly, accepted the cord, thanked Liu Mama, then turned to Xu Zaijing: "Jing Ge'er, one more cord means one more blessing—there's no such thing as too many."

Xu Zaijing looked at the double-knot on the cord and nodded with a smile: "True enough! When did the Yu family send theirs?"

Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow and grinned: "Yesterday afternoon."

As the two spoke,

Zai Zhang, seated at the front, shook his sleeve and revealed a similar cord with a double-knot on his wrist, then thanked Liu Mama with a smile.

The three Lan girls seated on the other side,

hearing their conversation and seeing Zai Zhang's gesture, burst into laughter.

Especially Ming Lan, who smiled brightly at the double-knot cord on Gu Tingye's wrist.

Ming Lan didn't need to guess—she knew it was the one Yan Ran had woven and sent him.

Ming Lan's smile made Qi Heng, who had deliberately turned his body to tie his own cord while "stealing glances," freeze for a breath.

These colorful cords, given by elders, carry wishes for healthy growth and protection from evil.

When given by peers of the opposite sex—especially those with double-knots—they carry the meaning of mutual affection and longing.

In the afternoon,

as school was about to end,

Master Zhuang waved his folding fan and said: "Tomorrow I have matters to attend to; the day after is the Dragon Boat Festival. You all have two days off."

Hearing this, the students all laughed and bowed in unison.

As they left the schoolroom,

and stepped outside to prepare to mount horses or enter carriages to depart the Sheng household, Wang Ruofu hurried out with Liu Mama.

"Greetings, Auntie/Lady."

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others quickly bowed in greeting.

Wang Ruofu nodded with a smile and waved them off: "Children, go about your business!"

Saying this, she hurried to Zai Zhang's side by the carriage.

Xu Zaijing mounted his little Li Ju and turned back—he saw Wang Ruofu placing two colorful cords, one long and one short, woven with gold thread and jade, into Zai Zhang's hands.

The short one was meant for Hua Lan; the long one for her grandson Xu Xingzhong to wear around his neck.

On the way back to the Hou Fu,

the sun slanted westward, cool and pleasant.

The sounds of street vendors, hawkers, and merchants calling out filled the air, a scene of bustling prosperity.

"Sniff."

Xu Zaijing twitched his nose, catching the scent carried on the wind, and tilted his chin toward its source: "Qing Yun, buy some to take home."

"Yes, Master."

Qing Yun walked toward a stall selling zongzi by the roadside.

Arriving at Quyuanjie,

Xu Zaijing nodded in return to acquaintances who bowed and greeted him.

Qing Yun distributed the zongzi among them.

By the time Xu Zaijing rode up to his gate, he saw a grass figure made of mugwort already nailed to his front door.

East of the Imperial City,

the Chai household,

the Mistress's Courtyard,

the flowers and trees in the yard exuded rich fragrance, some even repelling mosquitoes.

Along the corridor,

maids and old women were lighting lanterns beneath the eaves.

A voice came from afar, and Chai Zhengzheng, accompanied by her maid, walked along the covered walkway.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng, the maids and old women stepped aside and bowed in greeting.

Chai Zhengzheng waved with a smile and entered the main house.

"Miss has returned."

As the maid announced it, the sound of pearl curtains being drawn aside followed.

"Mother, I've just stepped in—why are you in such a hurry to summon me?"

Chai Zhengzheng smiled at her mother in the room.

Madame Chai looked at her daughter—hair tied like a man's, wearing a golden crown, delicate earrings dangling from her ears, dressed in male attire with a jade belt—and her eyes filled with admiration.

"Zheng Er, you went out today dressed like this?"

"Yes!"

"You look splendid!"

Chai Zhengzheng spun in place, showing off her outfit, and grinned: "Pretty, right? I modeled this after that girl from the Xie household!"

Madame Chai nodded with a smile.

Chai Zhengzheng added: "Mother, what's the matter? Tell me quickly!"

Madame Chai smiled and said: "The Empress has sent word—the Imperial Prince wishes to send several five-thread cords to the sons of the nobility and high ministers in the capital for the Dragon Boat Festival."

"The others are fine, but the Prince is dissatisfied with the cord meant for the Xu family."

"The four ladies about to enter the palace are naturally skilled at braiding colorful cords, but they are not suitable to present to the Xu family."

Chai Zhengzheng's eyes darted back and forth as she asked, "Mother, even the cords woven by the Wensiyuan don't satisfy His Highness?"

Lady Chai nodded: "He said they're too mechanical."

Chai Zhengzheng: "Oh!"

"So the Empress has asked families like ours if we have any colorful cords that might be sent into the palace for His Highness to choose from," Lady Chai continued.

Chai Zhengzheng slightly flushed and bit her lip. "Mother, did they come only to our house? I have a few useless colorful cords myself."

Lady Chai took a deep breath and shook her head gently. "I heard the Empress has also sent people to the Lu and Rong families east of the palace city. To the south, in Xingguo Alley, they may have sent messengers there too."

"When must they be delivered to the palace?" Chai Zhengzheng asked.

Lady Chai: "Before the hour of You tomorrow—five in the afternoon."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded rapidly, turned sharply, and walked toward the door. "Mother, I'll go look! We can't delay His Highness's affairs!"

(End of Chapter)